In: Uncategorized
12 May 2009
What an amazing night at Passion City Church! Though we were in a big, sparse, flat-floor convention space, Sunday night felt more and more like church as we hosted our fourth open gathering and are slowly growing into a community of faith.
Thanks for spending the end of your Mother’s Day with us and for helping make the night so special as we talked about the third of our key anchors: Extravagant Worship. And thank you for embracing Love Atlanta|Love The World. With the first $25K of the offering we were able to fund our causes for the night, bringing our total given during our initial four gatherings to local and global needs to $100,000!
Above that, we had enough to make a dent in our costs for the night, but definitely not cover them. I know to some that seems backwards and makes no sense at all. But we desire for PCC to be a church that thinks outwardly first, joining God in touching the world in Jesus’ name. We are confident that we cannot out give God, and know that an “other’s first/PCC second” mindset will take us where we ultimately want to go.
Thank you to the hundreds of you who stayed for our informational meeting after the service. It was so cool for our core team to be able to express some of what we have been processing as we seek His leading for PCC. The prayers you prayed over us at the end were unexpected and a huge blessing, affirming to us that God is with us and some of you are, too. Hopefully, in the next few weeks we will update our FAQs on the PCC site to include some of what was discussed in Sunday’s meeting.
It’s sad to think that we won’t be back together again until September 20, but the summer will fly and we will stay connected with you via this site. Until then, it’s pretty staggering to think that all of us are going to worship well today. We just have to make sure our limited amount of affection gets spent on what really is best.
If “the bus has moved,” revealing His beauty, grace and power, let’s respond with everything we’ve got to enjoy and promote what we have found to be best among everything else in this world.
For God. For People. For The City. For The World.
Louie
13 Responses to Extravagant Worship
Bryan Auton
May 12th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
AWESOME NIGHT SUNDAY! I still have chills thinking about how God moved that night! Can’t wait until September 20th!
Kason Moody
May 12th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Monday night was awesome! My brother and his girlfriend finally dragged me out to see this Passion City Church… It was awesome to lift up God’s name with many different worshipers! This feels like a church where I would be very happy to invite my friends and family. Thanks to Louie for following God’s Will and starting this church that is destined to be a cornerstone in Atlanta.
Alison Lewis
May 12th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
What an amazing night of worship…again! Each time we meet it gets even better.
Sunday night was really a turning point for me in regard to PCC. I’ve attended every service so far. However, when we had the privilege and honor of coming down and literally surrounding the leadership team in heartfelt prayer, it made it “real” for me. The worship through the music and messages have been incredible at every service, but as you said Louie, “Sunday night felt more and more like church”.
After following you guys for 5 years now through concerts, CDs, DVDs, etc., as hard as I’ve tried, it’s been very difficult to make the switch in my heart and mind to the fact that PCC meetings are actually church services. I’m sure I’m not alone in that
. After praying over you guys Sunday night though, it hit me…you guys are just everyday people like us seeking God’s will in your lives…and in this case seeking God’s will for His church.
I’ve always admired all of you for being so humble. Regardless of the fame and recognition that you receive, it’s always about God and not yourselves. That was very apparent Sunday when we were able to pray for you. Thank you guys for continuing to let God use you. You are all faithful servants, and an inspiration to us all. The PCC leadership team will continue to be in my prayers.
Alison Lewis
Benjamin
May 13th, 2009 at 10:53 am
When I think about PCC, I think about the unique qualities and characteristics that are in play. As I think about the church today, I increasingly find myself wondering if the same old categories for church life remain viable. I believe PCC has a unique opportunity to step outside of the usual categories and transcend the shortcomings of a typical local church. I am finding in the current and emerging generation that no one local church can adequately or fully express all that is in their hearts. They are longing to tap into a unified citywide kingdom movement. We need an expression of the church in our cities that do in fact function as a “city church,” not merely in name but in form and function. PCC has that unique ability to function at that higher level, unifying the church at large, creating the space for local churches to come together around worship and shared mission. I love the model you have been operating with thus far and believe it to be a powerful wave of the future.
gail
May 13th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
So many things I can say about Sunday night but it would take way too long to say them all. You try to tell people about it but there are really no words and you really have to be there. It was an all out celebration! I have a comment and one question. I am a part of an incredible church in Atlanta but I am always longing to sing more than the 3 songs (which is its format). Thank you, thank you, thank you PCC for devoting so much of our time together to singing. I hope that never changes …”All Your people, love to sing Your name, God Almighty.”
The second thing is, did you happen to mention at the meeting on Sunday night why we are not meeting again until Sept. That is going to be a long wait for so many of us : )
Carsten
May 21st, 2009 at 12:54 am
Thank you for talking to us about where the core leaders were at and the state of progress after the service ended. I know it meant a lot to me so I’m sure it was appreciated by all…. I value the transparency you and your team take every step of the way.
I think the thing I am most excited about is the energy, passion, and integrity of pursuing the kingdom of God that has always surrounded your ministries being focused and deliberate for hurting people here. I was glad to hear that the heart of the church will be multicultural and reflect the city of Atlanta as it truly is, which is diverse.
Most of all, I am pumped up to see weekly small bible study groups birth out of what is sure to be massive central meetings on the weekends. Lives will be transformed and we will bend out God’s love and message of grace for everyone around us in word and deed.
Praise God!!!!!!
Julie
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I had an awesome experience both at the Good Friday service and PCC on Mother’s Day night. Worshipping the Lord in that capacity truly was the perfect ending to my Mother’s Day.
I truly love each and everyone of you on the core team. Would love it if Matt could lead a little more:-) I was very challenged by Louie’s message. I’ve just finished going through Francis Chan’s Crazy Love book with my SS class and it has really rocked my world. Though I am passionate for the Lord I have let a lot of things into my life that seem to be accepted by a lot of Christians. However, after reading that book I know some things have got to go. Louie’s message just dove-tailed what God had already been doing in my heart.
One comment that I have is the team may want to consider the volume level out in the congregation. Okay…I know this is going to make me sound like an “old foggie” but hear me out. I don’t mean the music was too loud like it was hurting my ears. I mean that it was so loud that I couldn’t hear anyone else around me worshipping and could barely hear myself. I truly believe it is important in corporate worship to be able to hear those around you. When you hear those around you worshipping passionately it fuels your worship. Just something to consider as you’re ironing out the beginnings of this wonderful new adventure.
Love to you all!
Mike M.
May 26th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Praying you’ll find first gear! To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Cindy M.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Funny, so many people have been following you’all for years…. I just figured out who Chris Tomlin is at an Alive Festival three years ago in Ohio (there was sunset that was just beautiful as Chris sang Indescribable & he stopped singing to point out God’s work). Louie – I hear of at the next year’s Alive, which I didn’t attend, but wondered who this Louie guy was with Chris. Thank you for your messages – they have been challenging & relevant in my life. And as one who crazily moved down to Georgia just because I felt God leading us here, I fully love to see you moving only as God lets you know how to move – and not a moment sooner. I do agree, that a bit more tone down on the music would be cool – it hurts my voice to sing along – but I have a lot to learn in the voice department.
God worked awesomely at the Mother’s Day service, giving our unemployed family an opportunity to go back to Ohio to visit family and friends & to minister as well. The awesome work, just made me cry as I haven’t cried in a long time – to realize that God really, really knows our desires & cares to work through even me. Incredible.
Thanks for your ministry here. Volunteering for PCC has given me some purpose in a time I needed to feel needed.
Liz
June 6th, 2009 at 8:49 am
praying for your continued success for His kingdom
Jim & Susan Lytle
July 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Just wanted you to know we’re praying for you as you seek God’s wisdom and direction for upcoming steps.
Bless you,
Jim & Susan
Kirsty Camac
July 11th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Just wanted to pass on a big WOW! and a thankyou to Louie for what God Spoke to me through you during Hillsong Conference Australia ‘09 and, while looking for the best avenue to type this, I find a title “extravagant worship”! God is so cool!
Over the past few months in my home church here in Australia, I have been speaking on Worship from Mark 5:18 -42. I wrapped the series up [for now....] back in April with this verse from Romans and after yours and Donna Crouch’s talks on Friday july 10 I wanted to pass it on:
“I beseech you therefore [COME ON! NOW!!] brethren [you, yes, YOU!] by the mercies of God [because He LOVES you] to present [use a short 'e': gift, be in attendance, current, available, there, here, SHOW UP!!] your bodies [your physical existence, your tangible, touchable presence, YOU!!!] a living [breathing?: be-ing and do-ing] sacrifice [the giving over of your EVERY resource], holy [pure-ly dedicated whole hearted-ly], ACCEPTABLE to God [HE WANTS YOU TO!!!!!], which is your reasonable [looking at it logically, what else could our response be?] service [or, how other translations have it: TRUE WORSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!].
from the New King James. Emphasis and the ‘amplified-y’ inserts my own.
Please, anyone who reads this, do the World a favour and LIVE it out.
Thanks again Louie for allowing God to do/be all that He does/is through you.
Praying always and giving thanks for Passion,
Kirsty
from Australia
Anonymous
August 30th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Just 3 weeks til’ our next service!